– Historically good – VG

– I think this was the best of the season for me and it delivered two very good jumps, as well as a good test jump. I’m just very happy, Granerud tells VG.

Granerud was, for the first time, last on top again as the second half went towards the end, and he jingled 138 meters up the great hill in Engelberg, Switzerland.

Anze Lanisek and Kamil Stoch put pressure on the Norwegian. But Granerud was ahead with 2.2 points after his fantastic last jump.

It was a victory and with his fourth consecutive World Cup victory, he equaled the four consecutive victories of Ole Bremseth and Espen Bredesen.

– It is a famous company in which I had not imagined that it would end. Getting into the history books is something every athlete dreams of. This means that you are not only good, but also historically good, Granerud philosophizes.

– It is a very strong achievement, there are very few who manage to win four in a row. It shows that you are both in good shape and mentally strong. Many things have to happen at the same time, Bredesen tells VG.

Aware

However, it is a fact that at least the Norwegian jumpers do not stay at the same level as Granerud for a longer period. Roar Ljøkelsøy is the most victorious Norwegian in the World Cup circus, with eleven victories. But there is nothing to worry about the jumping comet Granerud.

– I prefer to say that I am aware of it, because I try to make a great effort to constantly calibrate and adjust my jumps. It is clear that things are changing and I cannot hope to win all the races that remain, says Granerud.

In addition to four World Cup victories, Granerud also won silver individually at the World Ski Flying Championships and also secured team gold in most spectacular fashion.

– It’s fantastic, I don’t know what to say. Meet regardless of slopes and conditions, fly like this. It can withstand a lot of variation, says national team manager Alexander Stöckl to VG, ringing loudly in the background of the phone call from Switzerland.

Johansson was stung

Challenging conditions meant that both world cup champions Markus Eisenbichler and the magnificent Halvor Egner Granerud had to wait a long time to jump in the first round, but the Norwegian once again proved who the best jumper in the world is this season.

In very difficult conditions, he landed at 133.5 meters in Engelberg and took the lead with a half-point advantage over Kamil Stoch of Poland.

Robert Johansson was sent downhill in the worst conditions of the day, with a lot of tailwind and did not jump more than 104 meters, which did not take place in the final round. Daniel-André Tande also had terrible conditions and landed just half a meter ahead of his teammate.

– Robert is the most punished and underpaid for his best jump this weekend. Marius (Lindvik) is performing quite well, and it is very positive for Johann André (Forfang) that he makes such a good jump under demanding conditions, says the director of the national team.

But Granerud gave himself up again, leading the World Cup with 113 points and soon it was time for Hoppuka.

There is a great Norwegian favorite.

– It’s nice to enter Hoppuka with a lot of confidence. I haven’t started to think about it much yet, grins Granerud, who is going into his Christmas quarantine with his partner in Trondheim.

P.S! On Sunday at 4pm, the stage is set for the last race of the World Cup before Hoppuka. The traditional four-race tournament begins with qualifying in Oberstdorf on December 28, with the first race on 29.